Future Of Secualrism
In India-
Down But Not Out
By Ganesh S.
Iyer
18 March, 2004
countercurrents.org
India
attained freedom from British rule after more than 50 years of patient,
determined struggle, the guiding principle being the doctrine of non-violence
and accommodating the aspirations of all faiths and creeds in the Post-British
political dispensation. The leadership of the freedom movement instinctively
realized that it made sense to involve all sections of the population
in this great enterprise. This was reflected in the composition of the
Indian National Congress, where political opinion of all shades from
right, left to the moderate variety was sought to be accommodated. The
emphasis on the middle path of peaceful struggle against a colonial
power was, to my mind, the single biggest factor which rallied Indians
around the Congress. The same spirit of accommodation was evident in
the drafting of the Indian Constitution, which guaranteed minorities
the freedom of worship and the right to establish educational institutions
of their choice. Secularism was thus given the pride of place in our
scheme of things. The horrors of partition notwithstanding, India managed
to remain wedded to this lofty concept, thanks to the leadership of
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
This does not mean
that religion ceased to play a significant role in politics. The champions
of right wing Hindu nationalism, led by the RSS had made several attempts
to influence the policies of the Congress. There was a strong pro-Hindu
lobby within the Congress, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who advocated
merger of the RSS with the Congress. This was staunchly opposed by Nehru
who sensed the dangers inherent in such a move. It was his strongly
pro-secular leadership which kept the communalists at bay. The rapid
industrialization of the country with a strong emphasis on the public
sector ensured that the fruits of development in post independence India
were available to many people. The reorganization of the states on linguistic
lines also ensured that regional aspirations were met. All round economic
development, with the state playing the role of guardian of the nation,
was another factor which helped to keep divisive issues (read communalism)
from becoming dominant in the minds of people.
GROWTH OF RELIGIOUS
FUNDAMENTALISM
A golden opportunity
presented itself to the RSS in 1977, when the post emergency developments
saw the emergence of the Janata Party as a credible contender for power,
with the Congress having been routed in the elections. The Freedom of
Religions Bill was sought to be introduced in Parliament, ostensibly
to curb the activities of Christian Missionaries in the tribal areas
of the North-East & Madhya Pradesh. This was in line with the thinking
of the RSS, which viewed missionary activity as a threat to the Hindu
faith. In these efforts, they were helped by the sympathetic attitude
of the Prime Minister, Mr. Morarji Desai. The issue of dual membership
of the Jana Sangh constituents of the Janata Party resulted in the premature
demise of the anti-Congress coalition and frustrated the efforts of
the RSS to grab the levers of power.
The eighties saw
the awakening of the communal sentiment, exemplified by the Ram Janmabhoomi
agitation at Ayodhya, which was launched by the Sangh Parivar in its
quest for power. The Congress leadership, in its anxiety to garner the
Hindu votes in the assembly elections in UP, permitted the gates of
the mosque to be opened and allowed worship of the idols of Ram, which
had been surreptitiously installed by Hindu fundamentalists in the Babri
Masjid in 1949. The typically short-sighted move was hailed by the Sangh
Parivar as a vindication of their stand that this structure was indeed
the birthplace of Shri Ram. The rest is history. Ayodhya continues to
fester like an open wound and defies an amicable solution. It was the
vehicle that launched the BJP to power.
The nineties witnessed
the beginning of the decline of the Congress as a credible, truly representative
political force. The demolition of the Babri Masjid and the onset of
liberalization combined to create a political space for the RSS &
its political offspring-the BJP. The electoral harvest reaped by the
BJP in the name of Shri Ram has been plentiful. The bloodbath in Gujarat
demonstrated to the world the horrors of politics inspired by religion.
Despite the loud proclamations of the BJP about its commitment to development,
religious nationalism continues to be its core belief. The biggest casualty
has been the principle of secularism.
THE FUTURE-DOWN,
BUT NOT OUT
In these changed
circumstances, can secularism hold its ground? The answer, according
to me, is a resounding yes. We must remember that the concept of India
as a nation succeeded precisely because our founding fathers had the
vision to accommodate every Indian, irrespective of his beliefs. Our
history shows us that those who ruled this vast, diverse country by
the principle of accommodation could succeed in their task.
Take the question
of the elections. In the 1999 elections, the BJP was able to garner
only 20% of the popular vote. It had a tally of 182 seats as the prize
for its efforts. This is nowhere near the 50% mark and is likely to
remain so in the future. In the event, its future coalition partners
will exercise a moderating influence, however limited its effect. The
diversity of political opinion will ensure that India does not become
a theocratic state, but will be guided by secular principles.
Lastly, we must
also remember that resistance to the erosion of secular values is slowly
but steadily gathering momentum. Communalism has been challenged by
right thinking, liberal Indians-whether it is in the sphere of education
or public life. The verdict of the Supreme Court in the Bilkees Yaqoob
gang rape case is a case in point. Secularism, despite the reverses,
is down, but definitely not out.